The Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens

It's no secret that we're huge fans of the Smithsonian's Flickr page, where they post public domain photos from their archives. This set was compiled from glass lantern slides from 1930, discovered in an old closet at the Garden Club of America in New York City and — eventually — donated to the Smithsonian.

Catherine Shteynberg of the Smithsonian Photography Initiative wrote a great narrative of her encounter with these glass lantern slides — the beauty she saw in their hand-painted details, her sad realization that many of these gardens no longer exist, and the role photography can play in conservation efforts. To read her full essay, Conservation and Chrysanthemums, click here.